THIS is the moment an unsuspecting woman casually walked past a “suspicious device” being worked on by the army bomb disposal unit, just seconds before it exploded.

The woman, a local resident, is said to have been “shaken” by the incident in the Galliagh area of Derry but was uninjured.

Sean Haslett via Storyful

The woman seemed to have no idea what she was walking past

Sean Haslett via Storyful

Smoke erupts from the device as it goes off

Footage emerged on social media showing an army bomb disposal robotic machine carrying out a controlled explosion.

People recording the video were shocked when an unsuspecting woman walked right past the device, which exploded just seconds after she passed.

No one was injured in what is being described as “an elaborate hoax” by cops in Northern Ireland.

A spokeswoman for the PSNI told the Irish Sun: “A suspicious object in the Galliagh area of Derry has been declared an elaborate hoax.

“Police are reminding the public of the importance of following their advice and respecting cordons after a resident walked close to the site of the controlled explosion.”

Inspector Mullan said: “We attended the area following reports of a suspicious object and ATO were tasked.

The woman had only walked a number of steps past the device before it went off

“We called to a number of homes in Glengalliagh Park and advised residents to leave their homes. Some residents agreed to leave their homes however a number of residents declined and were advised to remain inside their homes.

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